How to make a Gir cake

Due to (many, MANY) requests, I have been asked to post a tutorial on how to make a Gir cake like the one I posted before. Luckily, I have a great friend who’s daughter NEEDED a Gir cake for her birthday so now’s my chance! I will try and post as much information as possible but please just go for it! Do your best and just have fun with it If you enjoy the process, you’ll enjoy the cake even more. You can make this cake!

Step One: Bake Cakes! You will need two 6″ square cakes and two 8″ square cakes. You can do a round or big sheetcake if that’s all you have but this is what I used. Don’t be worried about the recipe of cake you use as long as it’s nice and has had time to cool! I usually bake my cakes the day before. Let them cool COMPLETELY before wrapping them in plastic wrap to set over night. I do not refrigerate as this dries them out.

Step Two: Sculpting the Gir cake! This is the photo I used for inspiration for Gir. I printed it out and kept it by me for reference. You could also make a template by blowing this up on a copy machine and cutting it out but I like freestyle better

Stack your cakes on top of each other without buttercream and place the larger cake stack at the top for the head and the smaller cake stack below for the body. Put these cakes on a large sheetcake-sized cardboard. Start shaping the head by trimming the bottom corners down to make it shaped more like Gir. Start trimming the body and rounding out the belly.

Continue trimming little by little (you can always cut more but you can’t put the cake back on, so go slow!) Compare to your printout often

Keep in mind Gir’s head has a little roundness to the front and isn’t flat. The top of his head and bottom is rounded as well. In hind sight, I think I should have made Gir’s head a little shorter but I was TRYING to think about photos and tutorials lol Make me proud and do better, he he.

Step 3: Cut Out the Support Board. Ok so now that we have the shape we want, trace the shape of the cake onto the board. Remove cake and cut out the shape. This board will support the cake and keep your final board cleaner. This step is not necessary, you can trim right on your final covered board but it might be a bit messy looking and require some cleanup after buttercream

Step 4: Time to split the cakes! Cut the bottom cake in half by holding a long, sharp serrated knife level and cut slowly. Let the knife do the work! Because we carved the top cake a lot in the shaping process, we don’t need to split that cake. You should have three levels of cake now Split the head and the body.

Step 5: Fill the cakes with yumminess! I am going with a strawberry puree but you can fill with whatever you like. If you do use a filling make sure you dam the cake with a bead of frosting so the filling doesn’t squish out. Also don’t use too much! A little goes a long way. You can also just do buttercream for filling. I use a parchment triangle for filling but you can use a plastic baggie with the corner trimmed off to do a buttercream dam.

Spoon in some filling and spread thinly. Don’t forget to lick the spoon

Place the middle layer back on and fill the same way. Place the top layer on and now we’re ready to crumb coat!

Step 6: Crumb coating. This is essential for sculpted cakes. It is a thin layer of buttercream applied to the cake and then chilled. This seals in crumbs and allows for a clean look when applying the fondant. Here is a short video of me crumb coating the gir cake after it has been filled.

After crumb coating, pop your cake in the freezer for about 20 minutes to firm up the cake and the buttercream but not so long that the cake freezes and makes the fondant sweat when you bring it out. Apply another layer of buttercream to make the edges nice and crisp. Take your time on this. The cleaner your edges, the better your fondant will look. Don’t use too much buttercream or your edges will be very rounded. A quarter inch is plenty

Place back in the freezer and chill another 10 – 20 minutes.

Step 7: Details. While the cake is doing it’s final chill, take your black fondant and make some arms and legs. I add tylose so that they dry stiffer but it isn’t necessary. Form some antennae and trim the edge flat. Insert the lollipop stick into the antennae. You also need to make a zipper, eye lashes and a nose. If you feel like it would be easier, you can do this after you cover the cake in fondant so you can compare what you are making to the cake to make sure the details are not too big or small.

Use your flat edged tool to make the zipper pattern.

Step 8: Fondant! Right before you take out the cake, roll out your green fondant. Shoot for too big rather than just big enough. The bigger the piece, the easier it will be to get the folds out of the fondant around the edges. Try to roll the fondant out to about a quarter inch thick so you don’t get tears but you don’t want it to be TOO thick or it will be hard to cut. Here is a video of me covering Gir in fondant. I roll the fondant up onto a tube and then drape it over the cake. Usually, I just pick the fondant up and place it on the cake but rolling the fondant up onto a tube will probably prevent tearing for beginners.

Use your fondant smoother to get out all the lumps and bumps. Fingers leave fingerprints!

Step 9: More Details! After your cake is trimmed, roll out a piece of green fondant into a rope. Place around the bottom edge to hide the rough edges.

Paint on the stitch-marks and mouth-line with the black food color.

Cut out a tongue and glue on the rest of the facial features with a small amount of water on your clean brush. Put the antennae in as well as the zipper and lastly, the arms and legs. These stick better if you wet them lightly and then allow them to become tacky before attaching to the body. Smoosh edges down to make it secure.

Personalize the cake with some rolled out white fondant shaped as a talk bubble. Remember to wipe off all those fingerprints BEFORE you take a photo (unlike me) ha ha.

I hope you found this cake tutorial helpful and I would LOVE to see photos of your finished cakes! Good luck!

Im going to be making a simular cake but i want it to be sitting up right how would i stableize the cake…..
;

Siún Hickey

Wow! This cake is amazing. I really want to try and make it now:) Thanks for the brilliant tutorial, the videos were really helpful.

LJ

I’m going to make this cake for my son’s 12th birthday in December-he is a mad keen Gir and Zim fan-hopefully it turns out ok-fingers crossed! Thank you for the great tutorial!

Starlet

OMG! Thank you so much! This was amazing. My birthday is in exactly 13 days ands I am totally making this for me! I love gir so much! I asked my mom for the cake but she said no…:( but now thtat I found the recipe, I can totally make it! THNX LIZ!

http://LittleDeliciousBakeryonFacebook Nikki Baker

Thank you for this tutorial. i am making this cake for my nephews 2nd bday party. ill send pics if it turns out. im starting today. :}

Trena J

Thanks so much for sharing!! My daughter will LOVE this one!! Do you think it can be made with ice cream as well? I may try both!

Ramirez

What about the gir laying on his side? Is there a top view pic some where? I really like the side ways gir…

Didnt get it for my last bday mabe for my 12th bday………now I gotta wait til febuary……

Brittany

I am making this cake for my brother in two days for his bday ^_^

reagan

PRETTY PLEASE MAKE A DOMO CAKE
IF YOU DON’T I WILL CRY :,(

emily

i asked my mum if she can make this cake for me and she said maybe. she probly just doesnt want to make it
ill find someone to make it

Pinki

Omg! I <3 how you gave step by step instructions on how to make this cake!!

Marie

I made this cake for a friend where cani send you a pic of the results?

GirLOVER4ever

Omg My bday is on the 23rd of May and you just saved my life but we dont have the money to make it…. better get my lemonade stand ready as gir says, ” WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!”
Also i would like to suggest if u could make gir cupcakes and a domo cake?!!
#youragod

Sandy

Glad to find this site. Have to make this cake for my grandsons 21st birthday and had no idea who Gir was or looked like. Yhank-you so much for the info.

Taco

Foolish human pig smellies, I SHALL RULE YOU ALL WITH MY IRON FIST!

Stephanie

Well! Tomorrow I’ll be taking a whack at this. Never made such an elaborate cake but you’ve made this step by step and I think I can do it my daughter turns 12 on Wednesday and is a HUGE invader zim fan (my fault xP she gets it from her mommy ) anyways, thanks so much for the tutorial. Here’s hoping!!!

ana pachter

I love Gir………we have everything in common….except im not a robot disguised as a dog.. My dad and i are making this cake for my Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait….. Wish I did not have to slice it though….going to take a lot of pictures to remember it ;P

I’M A GONNA HUUUUUUG YOOOOOU!!!

Said by——-Gir♥♥♥

Monae

sooooooooooooooooo cute!!!! iLOVE gir. he is so AWESOME and we like the same things. i want my ARTISTIC MOM to make it for me!!!:) wish us luck!!!!!

Beth

I’m trying to get this for my goddaughter’s 13th bday but no bakery will make it in Columbus Ohio. Anybody know anybody who can?

Lexi

I mite b able to for her next bday if this ones passed (it mite not b good cuz in 11 :p) but im making for my bday as well so ill give it a try and I live in ohio to so ya… But idk so keep trying stores and I will bet that if u give walmart a pic and u print the instructions out for them then they will probably try

Thanks. You made me hungry! I’m going to make a very small gir cake soon

Nikita Shay

i own all seasons of invader zim he is SO cute an AWESOME i love the 1 episode where he sing the doom song . I really want that cake! BADLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dez

I’m gonna hate to slice this cake:'(

Dez

Gir: you gonna make biscuits??? You gonna make biscuits??? Youuuu gonna make biscuits??? You gonna make biscuits?

Dez: no, Gir. I’m gonna make a cake… Of youuu!!!

Gir: I know what you mean.

Dez

I WILL make this cake for my birthday in July! Please keep this tutorial up! My very close friend LOVES Gir and Domo! It would be so cool if you could make a Domo cake for me please! Thanks!

http://deleted jasmine

I miss you cupcake!

http://deleted jasmine

Piggy why I loved you!

jasmine

I am turning 14 on march 7th and I have loved girl since I was little!
the taquitos!: )

lexi

OMG THANK U SOOOO MUCH MY BIRTHDAY IS COMMING UP REALLY SOON SO I WANTED THIS CAKE FOR MY PARTY BUT MY DAD SAID NO BECAUSE WE DIDNT KNOW HOW SO YAY!!! NOW I DO THANK U FOR SAVING MY B DAY CAKE IDEA AND FOR MAKING THIS THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!!!!!!!

http://girlsgogames.com jazmyne

i luv gir so much he could be my bf.no!!! im just playin but my bday all ready happend i no wat cake i want this year my bday is in nov!!! ahhhhhhhhhhh i have a gir outfit nd i no someone who was gir for holliween…
wtf (wat the fork) (:(:(:(:(:(:(:(: (; o:

emily

hey do u think that hy vee would make this for me

emily

i want this

http://artisancakecompany.com katie

loving the gir pics thanks i will use it and i love GIR he is awsome

Va

I am in love with your skills! Cant wait to try to make this ^_^ Thank You! Thank You!

Abigal

Wow, I for sure want this.

Kyndall

Woah, I really want to try to make this one day. Maybe even this year or something for a friend’s birthday. Though, I have no skills in baking what-so-ever, so I’ll have to find assistance. You’ve also inspired me to learn to bake so I can practice making shaped cake like this. Thank you for making this wonderful tutorial!

Amy

This cake is so amazing!
im going to make it my mission to make this cake~ >:3

http://hfghfghfg gfhfgh

flipin awesome

http://hfghfghfg gfhfgh

fghfgh

Brooke

This was GREAT!! I wish someone would make it for me but alas, I doubt it… THEREFOR I WILL MAKE IT… FOR SOME OCCASION XD Dunno what yet. Um I don’t know what fondant IS so can you please explain what it is… is it hard to make homemade? Expensive? I need to know how expensive this cake would be

spencer

ok that is a awsome cake

alex

OMG!! finnally a gir cake

peanut

omg i luv it and needz one uv these 4 my bday GO GIR!!!

Brianna

thank you so much for the tutorial, my 14th birthday is comming up in December and since I love to bake, im gonna try to make myself a gir cake I dont really have much experience with fondant, but theres a first time for everything

lauren

where did you get the greenish cover? and was it edible paint?

Alynah

Alynah

Make a zim cake

Alynah

I am the biggest gir fan in the world!!!! I want this cake for my bday!

http://? gabriela

that looks awsome!! im looking for a gir cake for my birthday and this is the best so far! but my mom says no -.- to much mess. i have tons of pics of gir and my mom says to take one in and show the cake maker people. NOT FUN!

any ways this is awesome and im makin this myself for my 14th birthday this thursday

http://deleted jasmine

Gir says happy late birth day and don’t forget the taqitos

bernadette

im confused you said i need two 6″ and 2 8″ but there are three layers. also how do you make MMF

cat

can you make a video for this?

Adrienne

This cake is fantastic-thank you so much for the tutorial! My kids recently got hooked on Invader Zim via Netflix and my son requested this cake. One question-does storebought or traditional fondant have an advantage over marshmallow. I’ve been using marshmallow recently because it is so easy and cheap, but I’ve never tried traditional fondant (costly and I heard it doesn’t taste too great). Any pointers?

http://artisancakecompany.com Elizabeth Marek

I would say that marshmallow fondant tastes 100% better than store bought and is cheaper. The only advantage store bought has is the convenience. I make all my fondant but it can be tricky if you don’t know what you are doing. I say if you can make it, then do it! Way better than store bought I do add just about 4 oz of store bought fondant to my MMF to improve elasticity though. I also tend to work with my MMF slightly warmed in the microwave. It actually works better that way. Have fun!

Caylah

hey i was wondering how the fondant is made or can i just buy it? Im throwing my bf an invader zim bday party and he loves gir. BTW the cake is amaziiinnnngggggg:)

http://artisancakecompany.com Elizabeth Marek

Thanks! you can buy fondant at your local cake decorating store

Ally

i am watching invader zim rite now while looking for gir cakes im trying to convince my mom to get me one for my birthday haha and now she can make me one instead of buying one thanks alot your work is amazing!!!!
Thanks

http://www.yahoo.com Paul Bavilla

I gonna make a cake like this for my sister who is turning 14 in august! oh brittany you don’t need to post on mean comments!

http://google brittany

hi i made one and it looked like crap lol

AnnMarie

Thank you sooo much for this tutorial!!!! My daughter loves Gir and asked for a Gir cake for her birthday. I honestly don’t even know much about this Gir character to begin with, let alone what he looks like. This will be a HUGE help in making my cake!!!!!! Thank you soooo much!!!

This was a great toturial. Easy to follow directions. My son loved this cake I made for his 15th birthday.

Gracie

I loooove gir i did one and it turned out great!
And that says alot because i can barely make a sandwich without messing up! Thank you soo much
(also do you mind trying to do a cookie monster cupcake )
Thanks to u and ur cake making skills

CHERYL

i JUST DID THIS CAKE FOR MY DAUGHTER’S 13TH BIRTHDAY AND SHE LOVED IT! THANKS!!!

Cammie heart

I did one and it turned out great! Thank you soo much for the how to!! I added tacos and muffins and it looked AWESOME! do you think you could make a patrick one ( like from spongebob) thanks
Also you are a great cake maker

michelle

Oh Thats beautiful can you make a adventure time cake tutorial my daughter wants one for her birthday but they don’t sell them in stores.

http://artisancakecompany.com Elizabeth Marek

I LOVE adventure time! I should totally do one Thanks for the suggestion!

http://hotmail.com Neko

you should make a turdle one my sister wants one sooooo badly exept they dont sell turdle shaped ones in stores

Kat

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I used your fabulous instructions as a guide for a Gir cake for my sweetie’s birthday and it turned out really well! Especially since this was my very first attempt at anything involving carving or fondant! So again, thank you!

bobbie

I just made this gir cake for my step daughter. She loves gir. I am sooo happy it turned out pretty good for my first shape cake tommorow i atempt the princess castle cake found on betty crockers website. Oh and my local store didnt have red or black fondont so we used black frosting for his zipper and eyes and we used yellow fondant for his ears and arms and painted it black w a paint brush i hope that was helpful.

Jo

Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting up the how tos!
I have a set of twin nieces with a birthday coming up….i had no idea who Gir was till now. They LOVE this character! They saw this cake….and wouldn’t ya know it…it’s what they want me to create. This will be my 1st shaped cake that i must cut out and shape myself. I have done character cake pans before, but nothing like this…..i am extremely excited to do it.

Aaliyah

I never knew gir till today hes adorable I love his videos I lerned the the doom song too im begging my mom to buy me the bed sheet and cake 4 my b day and make me som pictures ahh and my room will be all gir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I NEED GIR I LOVE HIM SOO MUCH!!

http://facebook.com/amandamarie420 Amanda Cudi

I’ll pay any one of you quys to make this for me!

aaron

awesome cake :), just wondering can you give an amount of foundant you made/bought? as im thinking about making this for my girlfriends birthday

http://artisancakecompany.com Elizabeth Marek

You shouldn’t need more than 2 or 3 lbs
Liz

melanie

awsome:)thinking of having one for my bday is it a regular person have to do it or a bakery?

maikao

i love it it was the best cake ever

isabel

i loooooovvvvvvveeeeee invaders zim its my fave show i watch it on netflix

Brittany

Omg Imma Make Me A Gir Cake!!!! lol XD

http://FACEBOOK ABIGAIL

I WISH U CAN MAKE ME ONE FOR MY NEXT BIRTHDAY I LOVE THAT CAKE AD ALSO GOOD JOB ON DOING THAT CAKE

http://google nate

it looks so good i think i mite make it my self and if it feeds that much im diffently going to make it pluse girrr is my idol.

LISA

It came out really nice! how many does it feed?

http://artisancakecompany.com Elizabeth Marek

This cake feeds about 20

Izzy

I want one!

Lori

This is an absolutely wonderful tutorial.

I’m attempting a Gir cake for my 15 yr olds birthday. I’ve never worked with fondant at all before so I will need to do a bit more research before I make the cake! Thank you so much for the this though!

http://www.facebook.com/thecustomcakery Stephanie

Thanks to your tutorial the Gir cake that I made yesterday and today was a BIG success! I welcome you to go to my facebook page to see the finished product. (don’t know how to submit a picture to you) Thanks again!

brittany

Oh my gosh I wish you could make me one for my birthday. I would die for a cake like this!

http://none Ashley

This is so freakin awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Veronika

Good job we love it!!!!! My kids loves Gir, do u think can i also do with pastry cream?

http://artisancakecompany.com Elizabeth Marek

yes you can make with pastry cream but don’t use too much or it will ooze out Have fun!

http://yahoo Dira

i luv gir!!! i made dis cake JUST like urz and it came out PERFECT!!! thx liz… ;D

http://artisancakecompany.com Elizabeth Marek

Great! Do you have any photos? I’d love to see!

Allie

hi! im a kid that loves to watch this show. I asked my mom if i could have this cake for my graduation party at my house. SHE SAID YES!!! i cant wait to try to make this!